Aloe is a genus of succulent plants from Africa, south western Asia and Madagascar. Taxonomically the genus is grouped with other lily relatives that in the past were placed in family Liliaceae and later in the Asphodeliaceae. More recent treatment puts Aloe in its own family, the Aloaceae, which also includes Astroloba, Chortolirion, Gasteria, Haworthia and Poellnitzia. There are about 400 species in the genus with a concentration of over 125 species that are from South Africa. The vast majority of the remaining species come from eastern Africa and Madagascar. There are several species that come from islands of the Indian Ocean and from the Arabian peninsula of southwest Asia. Some Aloe grow as large shrubs or trees while others look more like a grass or bulb. The word "aloe" comes from the Greek name for the plant which follows from the Arabian name "alloch" and Hebrew "ahalim".

San Marcos Growers grows a number of species and hybrids that we list below. We have selected these plants because they are showy and do particularly well in the mediterranean climate of coastal California. Many of these bloom in the middle of winter which makes them particularly valuable garden plants for adding ornament and attracting birds when other plants are not blooming. The following links contain valuable Aloe information.